Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

"I'm sorry. My daughter, please forgive your mommy. I'm sorry for not recognizing you. I wouldn't forgive myself if you didn't wake up. I'm sorry..." Sarah sobbed as she repeatedly apologized to Zoey.

At first, Zoey was baffled at this reaction. She glanced at Zachery who couldn't look her in the eye. But not long after, Sarah began to explain what happened decades ago in full detail.

Sarah didn't leave anything out. No matter how disgusting it was, Sarah came clean in front of her daughter. Despite knowing that she'd lose Zoey forever, Sarah and Zachery had decided to atone for their sins.

When Sarah finished explaining, Zoey was so out of words. Her heart felt heavy, too heavy that tears started rolling down her cheek.

"Zoey…" Sarah called out once again, gritting her teeth seeing the pain in Zoey's eyes.

"You…" Zoey breathed heavily, raising her gaze to them. "You disgust me."

Slowly, Zoey pulled her hand away from Sarah's grip. Zoey was no saint. It was not easy to accept that Sarah, of all people, would deceive her just because she hated Beth.

It was not easy to forgive and forget instantly. This pain… it would take her a long while to heal.

****

"Get your hands off of me!" Cora yelled as she pulled her wrist away from his grip.

Ivan only let her go upon reaching the rooftop of the hospital. Since Zoey's room was on a VIP floor, it didn't take them that long to reach the rooftop.

"Are you crazy?!" Cora added hysterically. Her eyes glinted with dismay as she ground her teeth while looking at him.

"I am!" Ivan shouted back. "I've been slowly losing my mind since five days ago! I'm barely keeping it together!"

Cora's breath hitched. Ivan had never lost control of himself to shout at her.

"I cheated? That's why you broke up with me through an email?" Ivan scoffed, pacing back and forth as he ran his fingers through his hair.

When he set his eyes full of pain to her, Ivan could not help but laugh at this level of ridiculousness. It's only five days, but to him, those five days felt like five years of nothing but torment.

Being abandoned for no reason? Without being given a reasonable explanation which he thought he deserved at the very least?

"The heck? You think I cheated that's why you're just abandoning me? Without facing me? Without confronting me? Without giving me a chance to explain what you misunderstood?" Ivan spat a series questioned under his breath.

"Did you really love me? Or you just used me to heal that unrequited love of yours?"

"Hah…" Cora chuckled briefly, but it sounded far from sounding happy. "Used you? If I'm just using you, it wouldn't hurt this much, Van. It wouldn't... hurt like hell."

Cora gritted her teeth, holding back her tears. This was the reason she didn't want to talk to him. Because if she did, she'd break down and listen to all his lies. She's scared that she'd lose herself by accepting him.

"Then, why do we have to be hurt like this?"

"Because I saw it." Cora bit her lower lip as hard as she could. "I saw you and that woman with my own eyes."

"What?" Ivan gasped faintly as his brows furrowed. "Me and who?"

"That night. That night when you said you were busy, I went back to the office. You were there and…" Cora choked as her traitorous tears rolled down her cheek.

"That Katherine you'd been busy with. I saw you and her kissing, Van. Should I turn a blind eye to it?" 

Ivan's mind buzzed momentarily. Kissing? That night… Ivan closed his eyes as he let out a heavy sigh. However, Cora took his reaction as confirmation for being exposed.

"It's not what you think, babe." Ivan reached his hand to her but Cora took a step back.

He looked at his hand as he slowly curled his finger. As he heard her say, "We're over, Van. If I turn a blind eye, I'd lose myself. I can't afford to lose myself. So, even if it hurts like hell, I have to let you go."

Her words were akin to sledgehammers breaking his heart mercilessly. He wanted to scream for her to listen. But, she wasn't hearing him nor giving him a chance to do so.

"Cora, I didn't turn my back on the family I grew up to just to cheat on you." Ivan muttered under his breath. But she didn't respond. He didn't know if she heard him.

Slowly, Ivan raised his gaze. It hurts. He knew the pain of getting shot by a bullet growing up, but this pain in his heart was the most painful he had ever felt.

Cora took a deep breath as she wiped her tears by her arm. She sported a brave look as she lifted her chin up.

"I think we're too young for this. I think we're too fast for this." 

Ivan let out a short laugh, "Too young? Hah… I guess you're right. I think we're too young to handle this. You won't listen to me and even if you do, you won't trust me. I understand."

Her jaw tightened as she watched him take a step back, rocking his head back and forth lightly.

"That's right. I would rather lose you than for you to lose yourself. I'm sorry. I won't bother you again."  Ivan forced a smile on his lips as he turned around.

His steps felt heavy, ringing in his ear loudly. His breathing grew short. If he could describe what dying felt like, this was it. 

He wanted to fight for her and clarify everything. However, Cora already believed herself. Thus, even if she forgave him, Cora wouldn't be completely happy.

She'd just constantly doubt him and worry. Ivan didn't want that. He chose this life just because he wanted to make her smile. Hence, if fighting for this love would only take that smile away from her, he'd rather suffer now than Cora suffering even more later.

Meanwhile, Cora turned around as she couldn't control her tears anymore. They kept streaming down her eyes.

'This is right. This is just… right.' She repeated internally. 'It's over. You can survi…'

Cora couldn't continue her encouraging thoughts as her muffled cries grew into sobs. It hurts. But no matter how painful it was, Cora didn't hate him. 

Indeed, Cora and Ivan's love was too young, insecure, and vulnerable.. And this goodbye would be a lesson they would never forget.